Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Yeah, I know. We're not even in Moscow yet. Okay, the Spouse is. But I'm still writing this from the comfort of Bratislava.

We're in a sort of Bureaucratic Limbo. We can't officially leave (and by leave, I mean apply for a Russian visa) until we are legally in Slovakia. Of course, I can drive over the border. But the Russian consulate here requires applicants for Russian visas to be legally in the country from which they make the application. In this case, Slovakia. Or I can apply from Washington, D.C.

I will be legal as soon as I get my Slovak residency permit. Which is apparently now available, and we can go on Monday and get them. But the funny part is that we need the receipt saying we applied way back in June . . . which we don't have. We got approved, we got a letter saying we were approved, they have our application on file . . . but we need to prove we applied.

Apparently there will be a Phone Call on our behalf and all will be resolved. But it is amusing.

Not as amusing, however, as this story in today's Moscow Times. We have this to look forward to!

Happy Thanksgiving to my friends and family in the US. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and it just doesn't really happen when you are an expat. The point is a gathering of lots of people, noise, football on in the background, dogs fighting under the table, children running around, everyone over indulging, and then naps, with more football on in the background. I don't watch football, but I love to nap to it.

So enjoy and think of me. And please, no marshmallows in the sweet potatoes. It's just wrong.